3.5 ⭐ Fans of romance with a little bit of family dysfunction will love this new title from Tehlor Kay Mejia. (I would definitely read her next book!)

For a debut adult novel, I felt like it had some YA tendencies, but I enjoyed the characters and the plot. It definitely reads more fiction with some romance, and I think I would have liked it even more with less romance!

Sammy is a writer and a music critic, and after dating a musician who she also wrote beefed up reviews about, her career is on edge. She has one last chance to keep her job, and writing a review on Max is her last hope.

Max is a musician that has been out of the spotlight for a while, he had a huge career and just disappeared. Rumor has it, he's working on a solo album. The last time he saw Sammy, he promised her he would bring her on tour and then never called her again.

When Sammy runs into Max and he doesn't recognize her, she decides to just see where things go. Maybe try to get close to him and then come clean about her true intentions. When things start to heat up between them, she knows it's too late and can't make herself tell him.

At the same time, Sammy has also come back to town to confront her estranged grandmother. Her dad died before she was born and her grandparents have never been in her life. She has always wondered why they didn't want to know.her and has finally decided to confront her.

Sammy's mom had her when she was 16 and Sammy has always felt a little alone in the world. There is always "a man" in her mom's life and if Sammy doesn't fit, her mom has left her with friends or just completely ignored her. Their relationship is sad and her mom seems like she never progressed past 16.

I loved meeting Sammy's grandmother, Willa, Larry, and Maeve. I wish we could have focused more on those relationships and less on the romance.

I gave it 3.5 ⭐ because I didn't think there was really a HEA. The characters weren't convincingly good for each other and I didn't love either of their actions.

Thanks to netgalley for an eARC to review.

There were times I really enjoyed this book and times I didn't. I think having Sammy lie about her intentions was a big roadblock in me liking her character when it came to her relationship with Max. I thoroughly enjoyed Paloma and her taking charge of teaching Sammy and helping Sammy while knowing she had little time left. I am a sucker for a band boy story, so that was fun for me

I requested to read “Sammy Espinoza's Last Review” as I was intrigued by both the title and the novel’s premise.

Sammy’s personal and professional lives are in competition for “hot mess of the year.” But if she returns to her hometown and scores an interview with a rock star (Max) she knew from her younger days, she might get the break she needs. Naturally, the main focus of the story is on Sammy and Max—their past and what their future might entail, but the author takes the time to share Sammy’s struggles to find out more about where she came from. You have to appreciate Sammy’s growth as she reconnects with her mother and paternal grandmother. I probably liked the family stuff a lot more than the relationship arc, which was maybe why I wasn’t too sold on the ending. But if you’re looking for a new writer who can shape a protagonist into someone you want to care about, give this novel a try.

Three and a half stars

Many thanks to Tehlor Kay Mejia, NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Tehlor Kay Mejia may be new to the adult fiction scene but they are coming in SWINGING! This book had so many of my favorite elements, found family, rock stars, second chances, and feisty women. I enjoyed that this was a love story which focused just as much on our main character falling in love with herself as it did with her main love interest.

Sammie’s journey in this book was not easy, she makes petty mistakes and caves into her personal demons but ultimately chooses to fight for herself and her own happiness. Her story wasn’t perfect but it’s hers.

Special shout-out to Paloma, Willa and Brook for being the REALEST of the real, holding Sammie accountable throughout this novel and for forcing her to become the best iteration of herself.

I really enjoyed this novel and will 100% pick up another of Tehlor’s books the millisecond it drops. Verdad.

Rating: 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC 🖤

When I read the final sentence of this book I gratefully received as an ARC, my first thought was “late bloomer comes of age”. At first, I was slightly annoyed with Sammy Espinoza– in her thirties, learning lessons she should have learned in her earlier years– and as the story progressed, I realized I couldn’t be more wrong about her.

Sammy, raised by a young and immature woman whose narcissism kept her from being the mother Sammy needed, spent her childhood putting on layers of tough skin to take the punches life threw at her. Consistently made to play second fiddle in her mother’s life, she bounced around her mother’s friend’s homes and elsewhere while her mom prioritized the men of the moment. She hardened and fell into her safe space, which was music.

As an adult, Sammy makes a number of excuses for her mother’s absences that come to a head towards the end of the book. Before we get to that particular moment, however, there are plenty of gooey, romantic scenes between her and old flame Max, a familial reconciliation with her birth father’s mother Paloma, and growth with her closest friend, Willa. That’s all to say that this is a book that’s as full of life being lived with a soundtrack attached to it that screams coming-of-age.

Ultimately, this story is really for the people who spent their childhood having to be the adults in their own lives while the adults who were supposed to be raising them spent their time growing up. What I loved most about it was that it was masked as this cute romance book, but it ended up being so much more than that. Tehlor Kay Mejia knocked it out of the park with her creation of Sammy and giving a voice to people like her. I hope that Sammy’s story resonates with late bloomers everywhere when they read this fresh and moving book.

Honestly, for a lot of this book I was just really frustrated by the main character's decisions, and how long she let the lies go on. I knew it would all get resolved at the end, and I understood why she was doing it, but I just couldn't fall for the romance or enjoy the book until she came clean. I didn't see how what she was doing was forgivable, and I knew she'd be forgiven, so I was just frustrated.

In the end I do think it all made sense and the ending was satisfying, but I can't say I loved the book or anything because it didn't really feel that way until the very end. I did like a lot of the other plot lines, with her family and friends, and I think it all turned out better than expected for everyone involved. But--yeah, I can't wholeheartedly recommend a book that was so frustrating for so much of it. Maybe someone who empathizes more with the bad decisions wouldn't have an issue with it, but I found myself yelling at her more often than siding with her, even if I could see where she was coming from.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Fun rom-com. A teetering music journalist travels to the small town where she spent time as a child to soothe her wounds after a breakup.. While there she hopes to rejuvenate her career by interviewing a reclusive singer rumored to have moved there...

Thanks NetGalley & Random House for the ARC!!!

I’ll be honest. This title landed in my inbox as a link, and I thought I was getting scammed, so I almost didn’t click it. After stalking the sender to confirm they, in fact, did work for the publishing company, I YOLOed it.

And I’m so glad I did! Sammy went on a real self-revelation tour and it was a beautiful story that unfolded. I LOVED the storyline involving the grandmother. I liked the love interest, but thought their story was lacking. Or maybe I just loved the grandmother more. Who knows?

3.5 from me rounded up :)

I was contacted by the publisher to review this book, and I can say I’m glad I did.

Sammy is a music critic whose life has fallen apart recently. She decides to head back to a town where she spent a short amount of time in years ago to write an article about a musician that she crossed paths with for one heck of a night. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to remember her like she does him.

For the most part, I enjoyed the story. Besides the romance, Sammy dealt with a best friend who could be a bit judgmental in how Sammy did things, a mom who never quite grew up, and a grandmother who she never had an opportunity to know until now. The only thing I didn’t like about the story was that it did seem to drag a little by the end.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.

This book is one of the best adult debuts I have ever read! Full of with emotions, meomories, acceptance, new beginnings - it was just SO SO SO good!!

We follow Sammy on her journey of getting to knew her past: her mom was a teen mom, her father tragically passed away, her grandparents seemingly have never wanted to get to know Sammy, plus her love and professional life is in crumbles - her girlfriend just broke up with her, she is fired from her columnist job UNLESS...

unless she can execute an interview and album review with Max Ryan, former member of a rock band and rumoured to be releasing a solo album. Luckily Sammy's road leads to the exact town where Max is, moreover the key to her past lies too. Her grandma, her best friends live there too.

I loved the emotional roller-coaster vibe of the book, and how much Sammy has grown as a person, how she learned about her cultural heritage, her worth, her dreams and how she accepted that she deserves love just like anyone else.

Everything was about seconds chances (in general and in romantic ways too), found family, the importance of music. Loved that all of the characters has some kind of carried baggage that got opened up here and there in the story. Sammy and Max's relationship was so cute, funny at times, mostly raw with emotions and explored being hurt by the one you love so well, gave so many beautiful conclusion to these feelings.

The whole story felt nostalgic, warm-hearted and very hopeful - spiced with wholesome humour, amazing characters, swoony romance and delicious meals! Seriously, I am IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK!!!

Go preorder it today, because if you love music, tangled destinies or just looking for an overall touching, full of love, self-discovery, clever story...this will be so easy to get lost in!

Thank you so much for Penguin Random House for providing me an ARC and letting me read this amazing book early on!

This wasn't a terrible book by any means, but it definitely wasn't for me. In fact, I think my biggest problem with SAMMY ESPINOZA'S LAST REVIEW is more my problem with romance books in general: they expect me to root for couples who are almost always objectively terrible together. Like... I'm sorry, but Sammy and Max had absolutely no business ending up together (which is barely even a spoiler, let's be real); when your main premise is flawed right off the jump, it's hard to fight your way back from it. The domestic drama surrounding Sammy's complicated relationships with her mother and grandparents was by far the more compelling and emotive plot thread, but it too felt a little half-baked and underdeveloped. And where was all the friggin' music?

I was contacted by Penguin Random House with an ARC of Sammy Espinoza's Last Review and am very glad I had the opportunity to read this one early. This was my first time reading Tehlor Kay Mejia as this is her first adult novel, and I'm anxious to see more from her in the future.

Sammy Espinoza's Last Review is a second chance romance about a music writer and the rock star she met long ago, when he was on the precipice of becoming famous. Now, 10 years later, Sammy's job is precarious and Max hasn't performed live for seven years, but she's hoping to reconnect with him in the town where they met and guilt him into letting her review his new music to repent for the way he ghosted her.

Second chance romances are a favorite of mine, so this story was easy to sink into. On top of the love story, Sammy is also learning more about her deceased dad's side of the family and connects with her grandmother while realizing all that she missed out on because of their estrangement. This book has a lot of heart and humor, making it easy to sink into on a cold night in (like I've been experiencing lately).

Thank you to Penguin Random House for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this book, but I almost wish it wasn’t a romance! My favorite parts of the book weren’t the romance, which is unusual for me, and I think I would have liked it even more without it. I loved the found family aspect especially, and some parts of the book were really emotional. Something was just lacking in the romance story for me. I’m excited to read other books from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an eARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I loved this and could not put it down. A story on a music critic down on her luck and a former rock star.

I’m such a sucker for a small town romance. Sammy Espinoza has had a rough past and heads back to the closest memory of home, Ridley Falls. With a mission to restore her job and avenge her teenage heart, Sammy is set to overcome more than she originally set out for. I loved the concept of this book. It had romance but it also had a plot of found family and honesty throughout everything. As far as the characters I loved the self reflection and the importance of relationships to keep and to let go. Just a good read to satisfy those seek second chance, small town romance with a strong family support system.

I really enjoyed Sammy Espinoza's Last Review, a coming-of-age romance between a music critic who's down on her luck, and a former rock star. Mejia has a knack for bringing together all the elements of her world into a book that's heartfelt and clear-eyed, making this into a read that made me tear up and laugh at different times.

There is a way in which this novel sometimes feels more like a YA novel — and it is Mejia's adult debut after writing YA and middle grade novels — but I think that overall, Mejia does a good job of crafting a complex story between adults who are trying their best to grow and support each other.

Overall, I am very glad to have read Sammy Espinoza's Last Review, and I recommend it.

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy of Sammy Espinoza's Last Review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this fabulous book!

Sammy Espinoza's Last Review contains so many elements that I love in a romance. It has LGBTQ+ characters who are central to the story. There is found family, along with strong friendships that are as important as the romance. Sammy is a mess, and she has been through some things. She and Max have a history (whether he remembers it or not) and this is a great second chance romance. They are not all that young and are not at all naïve. Small town life is complicated and not for everyone. Family is hard.

Basically, Sammy met Max many years ago, just before the launch of his wildly successful musical career. She is a music lover and connoisseur, and they bonded immediately, almost at a molecular level. Then, he disappeared. Many years later, her biological grandfather dies, and she realizes that she only has so much time to connect to her remaining family. She returns to her small town (where Max lives) to find her family and maybe, possibly, get a sneak peek of Max's new music that could save her dwindling career as a music journalist.

Tehlor Kay Mejia, who wrote the popular middle-grade series Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, knocks it out of the park with her adult romance debut. She writes messy, believable characters who feel things deeply, who love and care for each other, and who make their fair share of mistakes. It's wonderful to watch them connect, grow, and mature.

Music lovers especially will swoon over Max and connect to clever Sammy. The only hiccup for me was a deception on Sammy's part that was sure to reveal itself in a painful way. I knew it was coming and dreaded it.

I give it 8/10 stars and recommend it to anyone who loves books with swoony rock stars, self-discovery, and found family.

I must say, I was pleasantly surprised!

Although I've read other books with a similar makeup of Sammy Espinoza'a Last Review, I felt that this was an enjoyable read. It was a bit slow to start, but once Sammy's world started to crumble a bit, things picked up and became interesting.

I appreciated the fact that we got to see Sammy grow up a bit by basically hitting rock bottom. I think the book had some great messages, great characters, and really allowed me to connect.

Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Sammy Espinoza is a music critic in a crisis - a bad breakup and bad decisions in her career send her spiraling and she comes up with a crazy plan to try to save her job. Said plan takes her back to the small town she once called home. The home of her estranged family and of her closest friend and also reclusive musician Max Ryan who ghosted her and broke her heart years prior. When she runs into Max again and he doesn’t remember her, she plans on exacting her revenge and saving her career in the process. During the course of her stay, she reconnects with the family who took her in and cared for her when she needed it most, meets her estranged grandmother and develops a relationship with her and also is having crisis of conscious about building her relationship with Max based on lies. There was a lot of emotion in this book and coming to terms with how sometimes the family you choose is more real than the family you’re given. That sometimes forgiveness and excuses on behalf of your loved ones isn’t healthy. Her friends Willa and Brook are amazing as are Willa’s parents. Sammie’s grandmother was a delight and my heart soared for every moment spent in her company. This is not a happy go lucky book but it was a hopeful one that I am really glad I read. Sammy was not a perfect MC, I wanted to shake her sometimes but she felt so human and fragile and I was invested in her journey to self discovery and acceptance.

Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review is such a passionate story about finding yourself, fighting for the life you want, holding close the family you choose, and how our past is part of our history but does not have to define our future. Tehlor Kay Mejia wove such a sweet and complex path for Sammy that will make you laugh and cry and help you remember to be true to yourself. This was a wonderful read.